At the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and members of the Government, ...
At the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and members of the Government, the Northern State Medical University of the Russian Ministry of Health presented its experience in implementing a mentorship programme, demonstrating the university’s well‑structured system for supporting young professionals at the start of their careers. Via a video link with the university, set up during the meeting, Yulia Chakina, a 2026 graduate and future paediatrician, shared her professional plans with the head of state: she intends to go to work in the Vinogradovsky District of the Arkhangelsk Region under the “Zemsky Doctor” programme. The President of Russia wished the NSMU graduate success, noting that she had chosen the most noble area of the medical profession — helping children: “There is nothing more precious than the future of the country, than the future of Russia. It is the children we all always think about and care for — both our own loved ones and all the children of Russia. And you have chosen a very noble path. In general, medicine, helping people, is a special calling, a special vocation. And helping children, even within that context, holds a special place. I wish you all the very best; I sincerely wish you success,” - said Vladimir Putin. The main item on the meeting’s agenda was the launch of a mentorship programme for graduates of medical schools. The relevant provisions were enshrined in Federal Law No. 424‑FZ. After completing their initial accreditation, young professionals will, for the first time, be required to begin their professional activities under the guidance of experienced mentors. During the online meeting, the Governor of the Arkhangelsk Region, Alexander Tsybulsky, presented the region’s experience in introducing mentorship as an effective and practical element of the healthcare sector’s personnel strategy. Very soon, medical university graduates will begin working under the supervision of experienced colleagues — this is not a forced assignment, but a well‑thought‑out adaptation system: the young professional themselves chooses a medical facility participating in the state guarantees programme. According to Nadezhda Bylova, Acting Rector of NSMU, mentorship is a very important step in training young professionals: “Together with the Ministry of Health of the Arkhangelsk Region, we have tried to ensure that every graduate is assigned a mentor, and we have also given them the opportunity to talk to chief physicians and see medical facilities with their own eyes — so that future doctors can get a clear idea of the specifics of the work in advance and feel more confident. It is very important for every graduate to know that there is a senior colleague nearby — someone who can offer advice in a difficult situation. High‑quality support for a young professional at the stage of their professional development is the key to the successful development of healthcare and a healthy nation. That is why mentorship will be supported by the university, by medical facilities, and by the graduates themselves”.